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'The Little Mermaid' Cast Then And Now

Halle Bailey, Awkwafina and Melissa McCarthy gave this Disney classic a makeover.

The Little Mermaid, a beloved fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, has captivated audiences for generations with its enchanting story of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery. The 1989 animated adaptation by Disney remains an iconic classic. Fast forward to 2023, a new rendition of The Little Mermaid was box office gold last weekend and is expected to perform well this weekend.  

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In honor of the success of The Little Mermaid, here is a look back at the characters from 1989 version to 2023. Halle Bailey, Awkwafina, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy managed to showcase the evolution of these beloved characters, introducing a new audience to Ariel and her colorful friends.

  • Ariel

    (Photos from left: Disney)

    Halle Bailey beautifully captured 2023 Ariel. 

  • Ursula

    (Photos from left: Disney)

    Melissa McCarthy slayed as Ursula.

  • Scuttle

    Gotta love Awkwafina as Scuttle.

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  • Flounder

    Jacob Tremblay perfectly captured Flounder.

  • Art Malik

    (Photos from left: Disney/Getty)

    Art Malik became Sir Grimsby -- and there is a slight resemblance! 

  • Sebastian

    (Photos from left: Disney/Getty)

    Daveed Diggs was perfection as a crab named Sebastian.

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  • Prince Eric

    (Photos from left: Disney)

    Jonah Hauer-King brought the charm as Prince Eric.

  • King Triton

    (Photos from left: Disney)

    Leave it to Oscar winner Javier Bardem to make King Triton come alive. 

  • Queen Selina

    (Photo: Disney)

    Queen Selina is an original character written for the 2023 version of The Little Mermaid. She is a human queen and the adoptive mother of Prince Eric. Queen Selina played by Noma Dumezweni

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